BUCHAREST, Romania – A destructive explosion followed by a fire has left 13 individuals injured at a home-improvement chain store located in northeastern Romania. The incident, which occurred at the Dedeman outlet in the outskirts of Botosani, prompted a rapid emergency response from local authorities.
According to reports from the government emergency response agency, the explosion was swiftly followed by spreading flames within the store. Botosani mayor Cosmin Andrei referenced a potential gas network malfunction as the cause of the blast, while clarifying that investigations into the incident were still ongoing.
Among the 13 injured individuals, four are currently in critical condition and have been airlifted to hospitals in Iasi and Bucharest for urgent medical treatment, as confirmed by the health ministry. Fortunately, over 100 people managed to evacuate the premises following the explosion, with fire crews successfully extinguishing the ensuing blaze without discovering any additional casualties within the building.
This incident comes in the wake of multiple explosions that took place in August at a liquefied petroleum gas station in Crevedia, Romania, resulting in dozens of injuries. The occurrences underscore the importance of ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols in establishments dealing with volatile substances.
As authorities continue to investigate the cause of the explosion at the Dedeman store, the community remains on high alert for any additional updates or safety measures that may be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.